Printing-press.



G. R. CORNWALL.

PRINTING PRESS. APPLIOATION rmm In 27, 1903. RENEWED 001'. 2a, 1005.

' 926,102, Patented June 29, 1909. j 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

GEORGE n. CORNWALL, or

, mounted for rotary motion.

plate and to produce impressions of a supeindenting-or otherwise, by reason of variathickness, or other improper co ulit'ion ot' the l the lattes or the imprcssion-receiviug mater-1a -,ll1 (llfi81'911l3 parts.

' fully armour hereinafter.

it rttiit lifl l'itl RYE, NEW YORK,

I l i ASSlGNOR Tr) Ah'lllttltlnh lluthitltilinlll (It),

OF NEW YORK, N, Y., A (ZORIOHA'iTlON OF XiR'QT Vl'lttllhlA.

PRINTING-BRESS.

Application filed May 27, 1903, Serial No. 158,861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, German ll. Gouuwum, a citizen of the United States, resiclii'igr at Rye, in the county of Vv eQtchest-er and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to printing presses and more especially to those in which one member, or both, of a printing couple are In certain aspects of the invention it relates to presses in which a printing surface consists of, or carried upon, a flexible plate, which may be of metal, mounted upon a cylinder constituting one of the men'ibers ot' a printing couple: in other aspects, honever, the invention is applicable to presses using other kinds of plates.

The invention has for an object the protection of printing surfaces carried on the press, in' order to effect the longevity of the rior quality.

Objects of the invention, more particularly, are to provide against abrasion or attrition, or other injury to the printing surfaces, by reason of the said surfaces coming in contact with the opposed surface in the printing couple at the line of iinprcssioni contact in the absence of an impression-re cciving material between the surfaces at the said line of impression contact, Whether the said opposed surface be a printing surface or an impression surface merely; to prevent injury to the printing surface by crushing or tions in the thickness of the plates or of the zniprcssion-receiving material, or of undue impressionreceiving material; to equalize the impression by eliminating variations in the impression clueto varying thicknesses of These and other objects of invention will specification of Letters Patent.

herein and forming a part hereof. it?

in ,part be obvious and will in part more i The invention therefore contemplates t-lie'l providing of means to cansu'ig the surface. oi the printing couple to instantly separate when. he paper or other imprem on-receir-J Parent-ed June 28, 1909.

Renewed October 23, 1905. Serial No. 284,035.

in material tails from any cause whatsoever between the surfaces of the. printing; couple at the line oi in'iprcssiou contact white a printing; plate is present at; the line o f in)- prcssion contact; the inrei'itiou turthor con templates the providing of means for permitting the plate or support for the printing surface, when same is of a flexible or elastic nuiterial, to yield in any part where the plate or the imprcssion--recoiving material may vary slightly in thickness or wh re the sheet. or web of impression-receiring rial is presented folded over, unduly titlvh, or otherwise in improper comlition. s *h yielding action 01 the plate will also tend to render uniform the degree of contactpres ure or "sqiteczc between the surfaces of the printing couple dspitc small [that variations in the thickness of the plate or oi the impressionreceiving. imiteri'al which would otherwise produce an obvious ett'cct in the printed impression.

The invention consists in the novel gr-arts, in'iprovements and combimitions heroin shown and described.

The invention is well adapted for application to, or embodiment in, presses used for planographic printing and carrying prn'ii; ing plates in the form of iioxihlc .ncts: sheets suitable for planogrzughic printing, such as: those oi zinc or aluminum. As it is 1; 1b: with planographic plates to oppos two orintin surfaces in one tililtit cou'ile a: l l

and thus perfect a sheet or web min but one pair of cylinders, each cylinderacting: as

both a form and impression cylinder, the invention has been illustrated as applied to, or

embodied in, a press of this '(i)2.1'&('itl. it will be understood however, and as hereinhet'ore indicated, that in many o't its ispects the invention is-ap1. lirahlo to other forms ot' referred to :trato one.embodiment of the invention. tlui'samc serving in conncfi'ion with the tlcu-ription herein to cxplnintlic principles ot' tho in 'vention.

Figure 1 represent-s a plan vi w .3. he sir-com )anvimr druwin s. i 1" t Fin; 3 is a similar rin diii'erhnt ipogii? 3 5 of printing press; Fig. 2 is a side eh tlllmt';

which carries the design to be printed.

F g. 4 is a sectional elevation of the machine, taken on line F- I of Fig. 2; and 'Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the escapement lever in position to arrest the cam shaft at the completion of'a rotation.

In the illustrated embodiment; 1 represents the. framework of the machine, which may be of any desirable or convenient form. Suitably mounted in said framework is shown a printing couple in the form of two rotary cylinders 2, 2, upon either or both of which is mounted a printing face or plate 3, In accordance with some features of the inven tion it is innnaterial how many plates are used or how they are mounted; in accord 'ance with other features, however, it is contemplated to mount'plates upon each cyliin der and in opposition to each other, so that a single couple will perfect a sheet or web. Said cylinders are .mounted to rotate in suitable bearings supported in the frame of the machine. Means for holding the members of the printing couple normally to impression contact are provided, said means being constructed and arranged to permit relative movement of the said members so as to,

allow them to pass into orout of impression contact, for. the purposes hereinafter set forth. In the illustrated form of such means the bearings of one of said cylinders are shown carried in movable journal-boxes 1,.slidable in Ways 5 in the frame of the machine, and a spring 6 bears at one of its ends upon a journal-box and at. its other end bears against 'a fixed part of the machine, such, as the end wall of one of the Ways above referred to. Said springs 6 tend to hold the thecylinders 2 at the line of impression contact for the purpose of receiving the impression. Driving means for the press of any desirable or convenient formare provided, and in the illustrated form inter-meshing gears are secured to the shafts of said cylinders to cause their rotation at the same peripheral speed. Said cylinders are further shown as driven from a suitable gear 8 journaled in the frame of themachine and having fo med thereon a belt pulley 9,

driven by suitable, belt. connection with a source of power. inking mechanism is pro vided for the press, .and may be of any form found '(jOllVGDlQIll; ordesirable. As in the illustrated embodiment. each of the cylinders comprised in the printing couple is shown carrying a printing plate, as hereinafter more fully described, each of said cylinders 2, 2, is shown as being provided with inking rollers 10, 10, which are inked by transfer inking rolls 11,11, mounted on oscillating arms 12, 12, pivoted at their lower ends upon the frame of the machine. Said transfer inking rolls :arry a supply of ink to the rolls 10, 10, from ink fonts 13, 13, supported 01175 the frame of the machine and supplied with the usual ink delivery rolls 14, 14, and blades 15, 15. As in the illustrated embodiment thepress is shown as equipped with planographic plates, damping mechanism is also provided. Said damping mechanism like wise may beof any form found convenient.

or desirable. A's herewith shown, each. cylindenis provided with suitable dampening rolls 1o, 11;, which .u'esu 'iplied in a similar manner with water from water fonts 17, 17.

The inventioncontemplates, as one of its features, as hereinbefore indicated, the pro- .vidingof means for securing a high quality of impression notwithstanding"slight differences of thickness in various parts of the printing plate, or plates, or in the impression-receiving.material, and for preventing injury to the plates, or the printin surfaces, or the design, by crushing, indentinghr. otherwise, consequent upon improper condition of the innpression-receiving material from the causes hereinbefore enumerated or from other causes. A form of suchmeans is shown in -the illustrated embodiment, wherein the printing surfaces are shown as consisting of, or as being carried by a flexible plate 3 mounted upon a cylinder 2. Interposed between-thoplate and the-surface .o f theeylinder is an elastic or yielding material, preferably inthe form of a layer 18. The. particular material employed for this purpose forms no part of my invention, and

may be any suitable material such as a. rubber blanket or cushion composed-of rubber, felt, or a feltand rubbercomposition. The plate 3 may be mounted upon the cylinder by suitable holding. and stretching devices 7, herein indicated as clamps 39, constructed and, arrz nged to have the required C(llllbillGtl holding and stretching action. So far as the aspectof the invention just indicated is concorned, it is immaterial what the properties I of the backing material and of the clamps Q are as concerns the conduction of electricity,- but in other aspects ofthe invention the use of a form of means is contemplated com prising/a plate insulated from the cylinder, and it may therefore be found convenient tohave the layer 18 of nonconducting, or insulating, as well as yielding, or elastic, material and also to have the clampswith insulated, or non-conducting, mountings or contacts. on

lhe invention has in v ew also the-prote f tion of the printing surfaces from damage or contact.

" the escap'ement lever 26.

'said' line of impression contact.

of such means included in'thepresent emlestruction by abrasion, or attrition, or otherwise, by reason of a plate contacting with, or rotating against the opposed surface in the printing couple, whether such opposed surface be another plate, or only an impression surface. Means have been provided, therefore, by the invention for instantly turning the surfaces of the printing couple out of impression contact when the paper or other impression-receiving material fails, from breakage or other cause, between the said surfaces of the printing couple at the line of impression contact while a printing plate is present at the line of impression In the form of such means illustrated in the present embodiment, one of the cylinders 2 is shown mounted in hearings slidable in the frame 1, as hereinbefore set forth. Toggles 19, 1 9, are secured at one-of their ends to the slidable journal-boxes of said cylinder and at their other ends are connected to the stationary frame 1 of the machine. To the knuckle joints of said toggles are pivoted links 20, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected with arms '21. Said arms 21 are pivoted to the frame of the machine and may, if desired; carry at their outer ends cam rollers 22. Said cam rollers engage with cams 23 on a cam shaft 24:- mounted transversely of the machine. Secured on said cam shaft 24 is a one-tooth escapemcnt 25 cooperating with an escapement lever 26 pivotally mounted upon the frame .of the machine. Mounted loosely upon said cam shaft 24 is shown a gear 27, connected to the shaft 24 by a suitable friction clutch or disk 27 which places the shaft under a tendency to rotate in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, the shaft being normally held at rest, however, by means of Said gear 27. is driven by suitable means, and is herein shown as being driven through the medium of 'a transmission gear 28 in mesh therewith and having suitable driving connections with the cylinder-2 in stationary bearings. The outer end of the arm 26 is formed with an armature 29 arranged adjacent an electromagnetic device 30, energized by connections from a'source of electrical energy such as a.

battery 31.

Means are rovided for makin or break b ingthe electrical circuit so that it may control the governing device for the mechanism which acts to cause the cylinc'lers to pass into and out of impression contact at such time and in such manner as to cause the printing couple to pass out of impression contact with a. printing plate is present at the line of impression contact in theabsence of an 1mpression-rece1ving mater-1:11 at the The form bodiment comprises devices by which the printing plate or plates are brought into the circuit and the presence of the impressirm-receiving material between the surfaces of the printing couple while a plate is prescut at the line of impression contact will serve to maintain a gap in the circuit, but upon a plate reaching the line of impression contact in the absence of the impressionreceiving material it will, by contacting with the opposed face of the printing couple close the circuit and cause the magnet. 30 to actuate the lever 26, which may be regarded as a governing device, to release the throwing-otl' mechanism and thus permit the surfaces of the printing couple to immediately pass out of impression contact. The devices for bringing the plates into the circuit comprise arms 32, 33, 33, which are pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine and are insulated therefrom by the insulation 36, 3G. The rollers, 34,31; 35, 35, of said arms are maintained in contact with the printing surfaces of said cylinders by means of springs 37, 37, and their points of contact are above and below the line of contact of the cylinders. The armature -29 is normally held away froin the electromagnetic device 30' by means of a spring 38. A's-in the form of means for controlling the relation of the surfaces of the printing couple wit-h respect to the presence or absence of the impression receiving material while a printing plate is passing the line of impression contact the printing plates are insulated from the eylinder, the clamping andstretching devices 39 for the plates are also adapted to cooperate in the insulation of the plates. In this embodiment the contact portion of the jaws are of insulated material and serve to'hold the plate against a strip l0 of insulating ma- .terial.

The operation of the mechanism herein shown and described is as follows: Upon suitable connections of the driving gear 8 with -a source of power the cylinders 2, 2, are rotated in opposite direction through their inter-meshing gears. and a web or sheet of paper 7 is fed l,)etwecu the cylinders. The printing surfaces are carried around by rotation of the cylinders beneath the dam: pening and inking rolls and the inked design or printing is impressed upon opposite sides of the sheet or web. As long as the sheet or web of paper is'between the cylinders point and the electromagnetic device 30 becomes energized. Armature 29 is then attracted, thereby overcoming the action of spring 38. The movement of the armature '29 toward the electromagnetic device causes an 'escapement of the cam shaft-24; by releasing the escapement levcr 26 from the cscapement tooth ;-said shaft being thus releasedis caused to rotate through the medium or frictlon gear 27 and transmission gear 28. The rotation of. said shaft 24 carries with it the cam 23-wl1ich passing under the cam roller 22 raises-the arm 21; thereby throughthe medium of the link 20 straight.- ening the toggle'lt), moving one of the cylinders 2 away fronrits companion cylinder, and preventing any contact between the printing surfaces of the cylinders. -The cam will holdthe cylinders 2, 2, apart until its low part comes below the cam roller 22.

Assoon the cylinders are thrown apart the electrical circuit is broken and lever '26 drops into position to catch tooth 25.

From all the foregoing it will be understood. that mechanism has been provided which realizes the ob ects and advantages [herein set forth well as other objectsand advantages.

The invention, in its broader aspects, is

not limited. to the particular constructions shown, nor toany particular constructions by which has been" or may be carried into effect, as many changes may be made in the construction without departing from the main-principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent z' 1. A printing press having in combination a cylinder mounted for rotary motion,

a flexible metal printing plate mounted on said cylindenineans for holding the plate upon the cylinder while electrically insulating it therefrom,-a source of electrical energy in circuit with the plate,- a inevable member upon the-press controlled by the' s'aidcii'cuit, a layer of yielding material interposed between the printing plate and the surface of the cylinder, and a member adapted 'to co-act wit-h said cylinder to form a printing couple.

printing press having in combination 'a cylinder mounted for rotary motion, a

metal printing plate mounted on said cylinder, means for holding the plate upon the cylinder While electrically insulating it theretrom, a source of electrical energy in circuit .with the plate, a movable member upon the press controlled by the said circuit, and a member adapted to co-act with the said cylinder to form a printing couple. v

A printing press having in combination a cylinder mounted for rotary motion, a

metal printing plate mounted cylinder, ineans tor holding the in the cylinder while electrically insulating it from.

the cylinder, an insulating material interposed between the printin plateand the surface of the cylinder so as to insulate the plate from the cylinder, a source of electrical energy in circuit with the said plate, a movable member upon the press controlled by the said circuit, and a .inember adapted to coact with said cylinder to form a printing couple. I

4-. A printing press having in combination a cylinder mounted-for rotary action,a flexible metal printing plate mounted on said \;'linder, means for holdingtheplate upon the cylinder while electrically insulating it from the cylinder, a layer-cf yielding and nsulating material. interposed between the printing plate and the surface of the cylinder, a source of electrical encrgyin circuit with the said plate, a movable member upon the press controlled by the said circuit, and

a member adapted to coact with said cylintrical energy in circuit with the said plate, a

movable member upon the press controlled by the saidcircuit, and a member adapted,

to coact with said cylinder to form a printing couple. I 1

(i. A printing press having in combinat ion two members constituting a. printing couple, a printing plate mountedon one of said'mcmbers, the plate being insulated from the said member, the other member of the printing couple having an insulated portion arranged so as to oppose said printing plate when at the line of impression contact, the

said printing-plate on one member and the said insulated portion on the other member being arranged in an electrical circuit, so that they will. eperate to contact with each other and close the circuit if they reach the line of impression contact without a web or sheet of intervening l1111)1SSlOI1-1'CQlVll1g.lnfltelltll.

7. A printingpress having in combination two members constituting a printing couple, one of said members carrying a printing plate, and means called into actionby the absence of ..an imprcssion-receiving material at, the line of impression contact while the printing plate ispassmg-the line of impression contact for moving onset the members of the printing couple away from" impression contact. 4

an printing press having in 'combina twn two liiembcrs constituting a pr nting" electrical circuit for controlling sconce couple, one of said members carrying a printing plate, one ol said members being movable toward and from the other member so as to establish or break impression contact, means for holding the said last-med tioned member to impression contact, and means called into action by the absence oi nu impression-receiving rnslei'isl at the line of impression contact while the printing plate is passing tho line of impresslon con tact for moving the said movable member away from impression contact.

10. A printing press having in combina-- tion a pair of cylinders constituting printinc, iiz o uplc printing piste curried on one of said cyunders, one of said cylinders being movable into and away from impression Contact, and ineins, called into action by the absenceof an impression-receivingmaterial zit the line of impression contact While the printing plate is "passing 'the'line of impressi on contsctyfo:- moving the said movable cylinder away from impression contact while the printing; plate passing the line of impression Contact.

11. A. printing: press having in combination two members constituting a printing couplc-, suid members being relatively mov- ,ZllOlQ into and out of impression contact, a

grinting plate carried by one of said memers, means for ceusin relative movement of said nieinbe s out oi impression contact, :1 governing: do ice for the said moons, an the said governing'deuice, said circuit and device bcing arranged so that the said means will cause the printing couple to pass out of inn prcssion contact when-the printing plate is present at the line of impression contact in the absence of the impression-rcceiving material at the said line of: impression contact.

12. A printing press having in combination two members constituting a printing couple, said members having relative mo\'c ment into and out of impression contact, a

printing plate earned by one of said members means for holdin the said members to impression contact 50 as to print upon an interposed impression-receiving material, an clectricnlcircnit adapted to be ciiectcd by the presence or absence of the impressionreceiving' muteriul while'the printing plate is'pcssing the line of impression contact, end

means controlled by said electrical circuit For (musing relative movement of suid'memhers out of impression contact when a "printing plate is at the line of impression contact in the ol ence of the inmression-receiving material.

12$. A printing; press having in combine tion two opposcd cylinders forming a printcouplc, one of said cylinders being mounted in a slidsble bcuriu means for normally holding the said cylinder, to im- 'pressioncontact with the other cylinder, a.

toggle mounted between the slidublc hearing and a fixed part of the press, a cam for controlling the toggle, a device for governing the cum constructed and adapted to bring the said cam and toggle into action to throw off the press when the surfaces of the two cylinders come into contact without an intwycning impression-receiving material.

14. A printin press having in combinution two opposed cylinders forming a print ing couple, one of said cylinders being mounted in a slidable bearing; means for normally holding said cylinder to imprcs sion'contact with the other cylinder, a toggle mounted between the slidable bearing and u fixed part of the press, a cam for controlling the toggle, a' device for controlling the cam, and an electrical circuit for governing the controlling-device for the cam, said circuit being so arranged as to be energized when the surfaces of the two cylinders come into contact withoutfnn intervening impressionreceiving material.

15. A printing'prcsshuving in combination two opposed cylinders constituting a printing couple, a planographic printing plate mounted upon each of said cylinders, so as to perfect an intervening sheet or web, and means for throwing said cylinders'out of impression contact, said means being aut0- moticallyactuuted whenever the said plates reach the line of impression contact without thopresence of an intervening sheet or web.

16. A printing press having in combinatron u prlntlng couple comprising two 0pposed members each carrying :1 lanographic printing surface, one of said printing surfaces consisting of, or being carried upon, in said. plate upon one of the said members of the printing coupe so as to insulate the said plate from the said member, and a layer of elastic or yielding material interposed between the said plate and its supporting mem-- her, a source of electrical energy in circuit with said plate and a movable member upon 'the press controlled by said circuit.

17. A. printing press having in combination two'opposed cylinders constituting a printing couple, a planogruphic printing surfuco curricd on each of said cylinders, one of said printing surfaces consisting of,

flexible plate, means for holding orbeing carried upon, a flexible plate, means i forholding the said plate upon its cylinder as to insulate said plate from said by said circuit.

p 18. A printing press comprising a pair of printing faces, a yieldable backing for one or both of said faces, means to bring said faces simultaneously into printing contact with opposite sides of a sheet 'or web of paper, and automatically-operated means to separate said faces on any contact occurring between them.

19. A printing press comprising a pa'irof cylinders, a printing face sec .1red in each of said cylinders, a yielding backing between one or both of said printing faces and its cylinder, means to bring said printing faces {cylinder-s, one otsaid cylinders mounted in simultaneously into printing contact with opposite sides of a sheet or web ofpaper, and means automatically operated to move said' cylinders apart upon any contact occurring between their printing faces.

20. A printing press comprisinga pair of cylinders, 'one of said cylinders-mounted in fixed bearings, and the other of said cylinders having bearings movable toward and from the first-named cylinder, a printing face. on each of said cylinders, a yieldable backing for'one or both of said printing faces, means to bring said printing faces simultaneously into printing contact with opposite sides of asheet or web of paper,

' andmeans automatically operated to move the cylinder having movable bearings away from the other cylinder upon any contact occu ring between said printing faces.

21. Aflprinting press comprising a pair of rotary cylinders, each of said cylinders havmg a printing face-securedthereon andv electrically insulated from said cylinders, means to bring said printing faces simultaneously into printing contact with the opposite sides of a sheet or web of paper, electricallyoperated means in circuit with said printing faces, and "means controlled by said electrically-operated means to move said cylinders'apart on any contact occurring between. their printing faces.

, 22. A printing press comprising a pair of cylinders, one of said cylinders mounted in stationary bearings, and the other of. said cylinders mounted in bearings movable toward and from the other. cylinder, each of said cylinders provided with a printing face, jgneans to bring said printing faces simultaneously intoprinting contact with opposite sides of a sheet. or web of paper, a

shaft having a cam thereon, connections between said cam and the said movable bear mgs whereby said cam'moves the cylinder having movable bearings away from the other cylinder; and automatic means to operate said cam upon the printing faces of said cylinders cominginto contact.

1 2-3. A printing press comprising a pair of cylinders, each of said cylinders provided with a printing face, one of said cylinders having fixed bearings and the other of said cylinders having bearings movable towar and from the first-named cylinder, means to bring. the printing faces simultaneously'intoprinting contact with opposite sides of a.

sheet or web of paper, a toggle connected with said movable bearings, a cam and camlever, theoperation of said cam controlled by the rotation of'the cylinders, connections between said cam-lever and the toggle, an escapement controlling the movement of said cam, and automatic means for operating said escapement upon any contact occurring between the printing faces.

2st. A printing press comprising a pair of stationary bearings and the other of said cylinders mounted in bearings movable toward and from the other cylinder, each of said cylinders provided with a printing face, means to bring said printing faces simultaneously into printing contact with opposite sides of a sheet or 'web ofpaper, a shaft having a cam thereon, connections between said cam and the said movable bear-.

ings, whereby said cam moves the cylinder having .movable bearings away from the other cylinder, and electrically-operated means to control the operation of the cam and cause the same to operate on the-printing faces coming into contact;

25. A printing press comprising a pair of cylinders, each of said cylinders provided with a, printing face, one of said cylinders having fixed bearings and the other ofsaid cylinders having bearings movable toward and from the first-named cylinder, means to bring the printing faces simultaneously into printing contact with opposite sides of a shooter web of paper,'a toggle connected with said movable bearings, a cam and camlever, the operation of said cam controlled by the rotatidn of thecylinders, between said cam-lever and the toggle, an

,escapement controlling the movement, of

said cam, and electrically-controlled means for operating said 'escapement when the faces of said cylinders-come into contact.

26. A printing press including in combination two members constituting a printing couple, said members being relatively movable into and out of impression contact, one

of said members having a printing surface, and detector means acting within the place of impression for tripping the impression,

said means being called into action by the,

failure of the impression-receiving materialat the placeof impression.

connections 27. A printing press having in combinaat the place'mf Impression contact during tion two members constitutin a rinting the impression for holding the members of couple, said members being rei ative y, mgdvthe couple away from impression COKltiLCt. 10 able into and out of impression contact, one k GEO. R. CORNWALL.

5 ofsa-id members carrying a printing plate, 1 Witnesses:

and means called. into action by the ab J. GREEN,

sence of the impression-receiving material H. G. Woman-m. 

